Celosia plant named ‘BKCELFPK’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Celosia  plant named ‘BKCELFPK’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; medium green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; dark pink-colored flowers arranged on conical compound spikes; and good interiorscape and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Celosia plumosa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKCELFPK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Celosia plant, botanically known as Celosia plumosa and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKCELFPK’.

The new Celosia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Celosia plants that have unique and attractive flowers, long flowering period and good interiorscape and garden performance.

The new Celosia plant originated from a cross-pollination in June, 2011 conducted in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Celosia plumosa identified as code number 1401347, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Celosia plumosa identified as code number 1400216, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Celosia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Celosia plant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since May, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Celosia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKCELFPK’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKCELFPK’ as a new and distinct Celosia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Medium green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Dark pink-colored flowers arranged on conical compound         spikes.     -   6. Good interiorscape and garden performance.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are broader than leaves         of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and the female parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection         have darker green-colored leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Celosia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are shorter than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are broader than leaves         of plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and the male parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have         darker green-colored leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Celosia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have reddish pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia can be compared to plants of Celosia plumosa ‘Flame’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Celosia differ primarily from ‘Flame’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia and ‘Flame’ differ in leaf color as         leaves of plants of ‘Flame’ are darker green in color.     -   2. Plants of the new Celosia flower earlier than plants of         ‘Flame’.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and ‘Flame’ differ in flower color         as plants of ‘Flame’ have dark orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Celosia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKCELFPK’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘BKCELFPK’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under commercial cultural practices typical of Celosia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 17° C. to 18° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 17° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 13 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Celosia plumosa ‘BKCELFPK’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia             plumosa identified as code number 1401347, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia             plumosa identified as code number 1400216, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days             at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically             grown as a potted plant; broadly upright plant habit;             inverted triangle; freely branching habit with about five             basal branches each with several lateral branches developing             per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 27.4 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 30.3 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15.5 cm. Diameter: About             8 mm. Internode length: About 3 mm to 17 mm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:             Moderately glossy. Color, developed: Close to 145C to 145D.             Color, fully developed: Close to 145C to 145D tinged with             close to 62B to 62D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 9.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate to long apiculate.         -   Base.—Long attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Leaf blade, smooth, glabrous; main             vein, densely pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 145A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 144B and             147D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between             137A and N137D; venation, close to 159C. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to between 147B and 148B;             venation, close to 146D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D; proximally, tinged             with close to 62B to 62C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged             in conical terminal compound spikes; flowers sessile;             flowers face upright to slightly outwardly; flowers do not             fully open and remain in flower bud form.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 10,000             flowers developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 90             days after planting; flowering continuous from spring into             the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Celosia             have good longevity and plants maintain good substance for             about 70 days; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 0.5 mm.         -   Flower height.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             63C.         -   Petals.—None observed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically eight. Length: About             1 mm. Width: About 0.3 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex:             Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, inner and outer             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Glossy. Color: When opening, inner and outer             surfaces: Close to between 62A and 63A. Fully opened, inner             and outer surfaces: Close to between 62A and 63A; color does             not fade with development.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one. Length:             About 4 mm. Width: About 0.4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to between 62A and 63A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Angle: Upright to about 50° from vertical. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:             Moderately glossy. Color: Close to 157B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen development has not             been observed on plants of the new Celosia. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to between 62A and 63A.             Style length: About 0.8 mm. Style color: Close to between             62A and 63A. Ovary color: Close to between 62A and 63A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Celosia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Celosia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Celosia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and high     temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone     9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘BKCELFPK’ as illustrated and described. 